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Region: US | Usage example: She put two and two together after seeing the emails.

Put two and two together

Meaning

Draw an obvious conclusion.

Usage

Used when logic reveals the truth.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Elementary arithmetic used metaphorically for reasoning.

American English since at least the early 1900s.

Related Idioms

Get your act together

Become organized and focused.

Pull yourself together

Regain composure or confidence.

Elephant in the room

An obvious issue nobody wants to address.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.